2Pac’s landmark second album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., will be re-released on vinyl again. Cop now before it is too late.

2Pac’s landmark second album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. marked a pivotal moment in hip-hop for the then-burgeoning rap star. He was still focused on pushing the line on enriching the minds and lives of black people, while giving jewels to the street to take home to their community. Add to the mix that the MC was in his early twenties, and you can see that the man had promise early on.

This week that album turned 25 and it is a shame to say that the West Coast classic has only been released on vinyl once. Well, that is until now, as Interscope Records has announced that Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. will finally get its long-awaited reissue, and you can purchase it right now.

Released in two versions, you have an opportunity to cop either the standard edition, which will be available at retailers all across the country. Or the deluxe edition, which will only be sold exclusively on the official 2Pac website. The latter is limited to 1,000 copies, comes with a gatefold image of ‘Pac’s notebook and will include handwritten track listings.

It also comes on red-orange marbled vinyl and includes four exclusive prints.
RIAA-certified Platinum, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. features the chart-topping hits such as “I Get Around” and “Keep Ya Head Up”.

]]>Update: Lupe Fiasco Gives Details About His Upcoming Slavery-Themed Albumhttp://www.okayplayer.com/music/whats-lupe-fiasco-upcoming-album-about.html
Fri, 16 Feb 2018 17:16:31 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126452A post shared by Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco) on Jan 30, 2018 at 11:29am PST Update: Lupe Fiasco provided some more context to his upcoming DROGAS WAVE album. In a response to one of our tweets, Lupe wrote: About a group of slaves who jumped off the slave ships but didn’t die and lived under the sea sinking slave ships. […]

The rapper talked about his upcoming album, DROGAS WAVE, the first release not under the Atlantic Records umbrella. During the interview Lupe revealed that the project will be a concept album centered around slavery in America.

Lupe said:

“My ancestors in America were slaves, who came from Africa. This album is kind of speaking to that, talking about that experience. But in a mythological way. I don’t want to give it up now… but it’s talking about it with a supernatural spin.”

Lupe stressed the fact that the album is going to be long. (We’re not sure if this means it’s going to be The Cool long or Culture II long.) Lupe also revealed that he worked with Damian Marley on the new album, but that there wouldn’t be a lot of features on the project.

]]>Shaqeyah Wants To Take Us To Her “Solar System” In New Video [Premiere]http://www.okayplayer.com/music/shaqeyah-solar-system-official-video.html
Fri, 16 Feb 2018 17:00:21 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126747Shaqeyah drops a new and official video for her 2017 single, “Solar System”. Watch it below. Shaqeyah follows her new single “Classic Love” with the release of the official video for her 2017 single “Solar System”. Blasting deep into space on a wave of stars and synths, the rising South Jersey songstress is drenched in […]

Shaqeyah drops a new and official video for her 2017 single, “Solar System”. Watch it below.

Shaqeyah follows her new single “Classic Love” with the release of the official video for her 2017 single “Solar System”. Blasting deep into space on a wave of stars and synths, the rising South Jersey songstress is drenched in red for her video debut; the creative direction suggests a decidedly more sultry take on the classic visual for the “Quiet Storm (Remix)” by Mobb Deep and Lil’ Kim.

Billed as “honest, vulnerable, soulful and real,” Shaqeyah’s presence is intimate and otherworldly against the slow-burning, rhythmic arrangement from producer Kenif Muse. The clip for the track was shot and edited by Knox 777. Watch the video for “Solar System” below. Stream and download the single via Audiomack.

]]>Drake Gives Out Close to a Million Dollars in the “God’s Plan” Videohttp://www.okayplayer.com/music/watch-drake-gods-plan-video.html
Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:45:27 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126766Drake season is here A couple of days ago, Drake called his “God’s Plan” video “The most important thing I have ever done in my career.“ We now know what he means. On Friday Drake dropped the video for his number one hit smash. WATCH: Drake & BlocBoy JB Drop a Video for Their Collabo […]

At the beginning of the video, which was directed by Little X, there’s a message:

“The budget for this video was $996, 631.90 We gave it all away. Don’t tell the label.”

And then we see Drake going around doing various good deeds, including paying for everyone’s groceries in a supermarket; donating money to a women’s shelter; giving cash to a college student; and surprising kids with a donation at Miami high school.

It’s an interesting strategy from Snow: he combines the songs from the two EPs and then adds 12 new songs. Dear Annie features contributions from Krondon, Jesse Boykins III, Cam O’bi, and Kaytranada (who produced the single “Egyptian Luvr.“

]]>Kanye West Settles $10 Million Canceled Tour Lawsuithttp://www.okayplayer.com/music/www-okayplayer-com-kanye-west-settles-canceled-tour-lawsuit.html
Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:57:07 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126760Kanye just scored a late victory. Kanye West has now settled his lawsuit against insurance market Lloyd’s of London, which refused to pay out on the rapper’s insurance policy after he experienced a mental breakdown and canceled several Saint Pablo tour dates in 2016. READ: Why Did Kanye West Spend His Valentine’s Day Posting Pictures of […]

Kanye just scored a late victory.

Kanye West has now settled his lawsuit against insurance market Lloyd’s of London, which refused to pay out on the rapper’s insurance policy after he experienced a mental breakdown and canceled several Saint Pablo tour dates in 2016.

According to TMZ, Ye’s touring company, Very Good Touring, had sued for $10 million after Lloyd’s refused to pay because it claimed the breakdown was triggered by Kanye’s alleged use of marijuana. Lloyd’s claimed drug use was an exclusion under the policy, though West’s breakdown was reportedly triggered by a mental condition, not drug use.

After added pressure from lawyers, Lloyd’s may have ended up facing a large punitive damages award and recanted, agreeing to pay a signifiant portion of what West was due under the policy.

]]>Run the Jewels Are This Year’s Record Store Day Ambassadorshttp://www.okayplayer.com/music/run-the-jewels-record-store-day-ambassadors.html
Fri, 16 Feb 2018 14:30:02 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126751The official ambassadors for this year’s Record Store Day are that infamous, world-renowned hip-hop duo most love to hate, Run the Jewels. Every year, we do a massive break down of rare grooves, must-have items and more that lead up to Record Store Day. Set, as always, to take place on April 21 at independent […]

The official ambassadors for this year’s Record Store Day are that infamous, world-renowned hip-hop duo most love to hate, Run the Jewels.

Every year, we do a massive break down of rare grooves, must-have items and more that lead up to Record Store Day. Set, as always, to take place on April 21 at independent record stores around the world, the ambassadors who lead this vinyl revolution have finally been announced.

The rap duo of El-P and Killer Mike, better known as Run the Jewels, announced the news in a short video and detailed their love and importance of record stores. The clip picks up where the video for “Call Ticketron” left off, with a comical RTJ3 news report coming in the middle of an alien invasion.

As the two anchors are forced to toss to a “fluff piece” with the hip-hop tandem, El-P and Killer Mike then share stories about frequenting independent record stores while growing up in Brooklyn and Atlanta, respectively. “When I became a part of the music scene, I knew that I wanted to be someone who was a part of that culture,” El-P said. “Because places like Fat Beats Records in New York City were cornerstones of the community — and that’s what we appreciate about the record stores. You’re not just some place to press a button to get a song.”

Killer Mike encouraged those who go to the record stores to “buy records that Tipper Gore wanted to ban.”

In addition to the independent love, RTJ also teased their own 2018 Record Store Day exclusive, a deluxe edition box set of Run the Jewels 3, as well as a 12-inch single featuring remixes and new material.

Last year’s RSD ambassador was St. Vincent, who we also love, but we can’t wait to run the streets with Run the Jewels.

]]>PJ Morton Announces the Release Date for ‘Gumbo Unplugged’http://www.okayplayer.com/music/pj-morton-live-gumbo-performance.html
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 23:10:19 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126724A post shared by PJ Morton (@pjmorton) on Feb 15, 2018 at 9:48am PST PJ Morton live is a must-watch Last month, Okayplayer live-streamed a special performance from Grammy-nominated singer PJ Morton, at Power Station Studios in New York City. The performance was amazing. PJ, backed by a 22-piece supergroup that included Matt Jones Orchestra, […]

PJ Morton live is a must-watch

Last month, Okayplayer live-streamed a special performance from Grammy-nominated singer PJ Morton, at Power Station Studios in New York City. The performance was amazing.

PJ, backed by a 22-piece supergroup that included Matt Jones Orchestra, BJ The Chicago Kid, Anthony Hamilton, The Hamiltones, Lecrae, Keyon Harrold and more performed a remimaged version of his fantastic Gumbo album.

Now PJ is giving fans the opportunity to listen to that performance any time they want.

On March 9th PJ will release Gumbo Unplugged. To celebrate the announcement, PJ released a video from that night, a performance of PJ and the band covering the Bee Gees’ classic “How Deep Is Your Love.” Uproxx premiered the video.

]]>Common, Robert Glasper & Karriem Riggins Release Their Second ‘August Greene’ Single, “Black Kennedy”http://www.okayplayer.com/music/common-robert-glasper-karriem-riggins-august-greene-black-kennedy-audio.html
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 22:00:13 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126713These award winning brothas, Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins, connect once again as August Greene for their second single, “Black Kennedy”. Between these three artists—Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins—gold and awards just happen to follow them wherever they go. After years of collaborating and creating, this talented trio decided to join forces as […]

These award winning brothas, Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins, connect once again as August Greene for their second single, “Black Kennedy”.

Between these three artists—Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins—gold and awards just happen to follow them wherever they go. After years of collaborating and creating, this talented trio decided to join forces as the group August Greene.

Titled “Black Kennedy,” August Greene talks that revolutionary talk over smooth’d out production. As longtime friends, this triple threat dynamo (actor, musician and producer) felt that now was the time to release this music as a group. Themes such as optimism and black excellence are meant to imbue black people with a sense of pride and awareness.

Last week, the band released a video for their first effort, “Optimism,” which featured Brandy and was filmed in Jackson, Mississippi during Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. Together, August Greene has found a sound that breaks the mold, shatters it completely and create a flame-inducing movement in its place.

August Greene’s debut self-titled album will be released on March 9th via Amazon Original.

]]>Ella Mai Bares All On Her Latest Video For “Naked”http://www.okayplayer.com/music/ella-mai-bares-latest-video-naked-music-video.html
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 21:30:32 +0000http://www.okayplayer.com/?p=126707The 10 Summers / Interscope Records’ singer-songwriter, Ella Mai, delivers powerful notes and speaks for anyone looking for that unconditional love. Ella Mai is already turning 2018 on its ear, as the 10 Summers / Interscope Records singer-songwriter gives us her all on a new track. After the success of her Time, Change, and Ready […]

Ella Mai is already turning 2018 on its ear, as the 10 Summers / Interscope Records singer-songwriter gives us her all on a new track. After the success of her Time, Change, and Ready trilogy last year, she dropped the Ready EP and endeared herself to millions while being on the road for a small six day tour.

Now, Ella Mai continues to bare herself to the world in an extremely honest and vulnerable way on her latest single / video, “Naked”. Delivering solid melodies and offering words that speak to every and any person that wants unconditional love in their life, “Naked” illustrates the concept that beauty is subjective and exists in every race, gender, age, body type and sexuality.

Directed by Keoni Marcelo, “Naked” is a very powerful and poignant visual worth watching and sharing with others.